What is the difference between a judge and a magistrate judge?
A district court judge is nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate. These judicial officers are appointed for a life term. District court judges hear criminal and civil cases. A U.S. magistrate judge is a judicial officer of the district court and is appointed by majority vote of the active district judges of the court to exercise jurisdiction over matters assigned by statute as well as those delegated by the district judges. A full-time magistrate judge serves a term of eight years. Duties assigned to magistrate judges by district court judges may vary considerably from court to court, however, magistrate judges usually hear civil cases and criminal misdemeanor cases.
